(19)
(11) EP 0 679 519 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
05.11.1997 Bulletin 1997/45

(43) Date of publication A2:
02.11.1995 Bulletin 1995/44

(21) Application number: 95200407.5

(22) Date of filing: 21.02.1995
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6: B41J 2/325, B41J 29/00
(84) Designated Contracting States:
BE DE FR GB NL

(30) Priority: 29.04.1994 EP 94201178

(71) Applicant: AGFA-GEVAERT naamloze vennootschap
B-2640 Mortsel (BE)

(72) Inventors:
  • Horemans, Luc, c/o Agfa-Gevaert N.V.
    B-2640 Mortsel (BE)
  • Kaerts, Eric, c/o Agfa-Gevaert N.V.
    B-2640 Mortsel (BE)

   


(54) Thermal dye transfer printing process


(57) A thermal dye transfer printing process for making transparent prints, which comprises bringing a dye-bearing donor ribbon (17) in contact with a dye-receiving polymer print sheet (15) at a print zone, supporting both materials on a backing support (14) in said zone and contacting the donor ribbon with a print head (18) for image-wise heating the ribbon and cause dye transfer to the print sheet, wherein the rear side of the print sheet is uniformly heated on a drum (30) after removal of the sheet from the backing support, thereby to reduce curling of the sheet caused by the image-wise heating of its front side.






Search report